Hour of Shadow Horse. (12:00 AM – 01:00 AM)
Aksai sat cross-legged in the center of his private chamber, the cool midnight air flowing in from the gallery on one side of the hall.
The soft rustling of the wind mingled with the quiet hum of nature outside. Moonlight seeped through the open gallery, casting pale, silvery beams that gently bathed the room in a serene glow.
He was in the middle of his nightly Spirit cultivation practice. The chamber was dim, but the presence of the moonlit sky made it feel almost ethereal.
The rays of moonlight slowly coalesced around him, forming delicate, shimmering threads that floated in the air before being absorbed into his body.
As Aksai progressed further in his Foundation Building realm, his understanding of the Sun Moon Duality deepened. He had to say that it was a very profound technique.
The Yantra Array, which he had inscribed onto a portable Array Disk, glowed faintly beneath him, emanating a soft, pulsating energy.
Aksai had carefully improved the functionality of the array over time, with the help of his neural link fabric that ran countless simulations to refine the formation’s original layout. Now, the enhanced Yantra supported his Spirit cultivation technique, with greater efficiency than ever before.
The flow of energy was smoother, more refined. The neural link fabric had run countless simulations to get it just right, helping him tweak the layout until it was almost perfect. Yet, no matter how advanced the fabric was, Aksai knew there was no substitute for his own practice, his own effort.
To be honest, these were not major improvements. No matter what the Spirit farmer did, his Spirit Root Aptitude was the same. It was like installing new versions of a program on the same hardware. There would be some bottlenecks that one couldn’t just get rid off easily.
Aksai didn’t mind. Every bit of improvement was worth it.
He had always kept his neural link fabric busy by giving it various tasks. It was like keeping one’s laptop on forever to make use of its processing powers.
No matter what, Aksai would always improve on the techniques and Spirit spells he practiced over time. As long as he was given enough time, he could crack any mysterious technique.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
The room was silent except for the faint sound of Aksai’s controlled breaths. His chest rose and fell rhythmically, each exhale releasing any residual tension from the day.
His hands rested lightly on his knees, palms facing upward, as the silvery threads of moonlight were drawn into him as he performed various Mudras one after the other.
Aksai didn’t make haste. His Mudra stances were clearly visible and even a mortal could follow them. It was completely different from how he usually performed Mudras while casting some complicated Spirit spells.
After all, Aksai was not in any form of danger at this point. His talks with Haitin had ended, giving him the assurance that the demonic sect would not act against him.
At least for the time being. He was still some use to Haitin because of his compatibility with the Heretic Dao.
As such, Aksai was not as reserved in the guest palace he was a few days ago. He was only given a day to make some preparations before he was allowed to check up on a so-called once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He needed to be at his absolute best for such an occasion. Hence, the practice of Sun Moon Duality was initiated.
Aksai felt the familiar cooling sensation spread through his body, as if the moon itself was replenishing and tempering his Spirit essence.
If the Sun essence was vigorous and hot, the Moon essence was gentle and cooling. Both tempered Aksai’s Spirit essence in their own way.
The Sun Moon Duality was a unique technique, one that balanced the opposing forces of light and shadow, warmth and cold, fire and ice.
Aksai had chosen this cultivation method for its versatility, but also because it resonated deeply with his own philosophy of balance. He believed in walking the line between opposing forces, neither too entrenched in one side nor too eager to embrace the other.
One could say that the technique not only suited Aksai’s Spirit Root Aptitude but also his temperament.
His eyes remained closed as he recited the Mantras of the technique under his breath, his voice barely a whisper.
Normally, the neural link fabric embedded in his mind would automate much of the process, allowing him to focus on other things while the cultivation happened in the background.
He would usually keep the practice running in the background while he focused on studying some other things. He would also take much-needed rest while the neural link fabric was tasked with executing the technique for hours on end.
But tonight, he chose to practice manually, to fully immerse himself in the experience. The lengthy talk he had with Haitin was very beneficial to Aksai in a lot of ways. It not only broadened his horizons but also made him realize that perhaps he was slacking off.
As such, Aksai decided to practice the Sun Moon Duality like he really meant it. There was something meditative about the process, something that deepened his understanding of the technique with each passing session.
As the moonlight was gradually absorbed into his meridians, Aksai felt the balance of the dual forces within him shift ever so slightly. The cooling energy of the moon complemented the warmer, solar essence he had absorbed during the day.
His body was like a vessel, designed to channel these opposing forces and create a harmonious whole. It was a delicate balance, one that required both patience and precision.
The Yantra beneath him glowed more brightly as the energy flowed through the intricate lines of the formation. Aksai could feel the subtle improvements he had made to the array.
Aksai had subconsciously reached another milestone in his cultivation. Tonight, the moon essence wasn’t merely absorbed by his flesh; it penetrated deeper.
He continued to regulate his breath, feeling the calming effect of the moon’s energy settling into his bones. It felt like the cool embrace of a quiet night—soothing and peaceful, but with an underlying power that couldn’t be underestimated.
As he meditated, Aksai’s thoughts wandered to the natural wonders scattered throughout the boundless cosmos. He found himself contemplating the very moonlight he was absorbing.
What exactly was moonlight? Wasn’t it just sunlight reflected off the moon’s surface? And yet, why did it feel so different from its original source? What made the moonlight possess qualities so opposite to sunlight’s?
As Aksai pondered this, he realized that the microscopic and macroscopic worlds weren’t so different from each other. It was the little differences that had the biggest impacts.
A slight variation in genetic code could give rise to an entirely new species. A small shift in gravitational power could spark storms or determine whether life on a planet would thrive or be destroyed.
Even the binary system, with its simple zero and one, carried vast potential. A tiny difference between the two could breathe artificial life into machines and gadgets.
In human beings—were men and women truly that different? Aside from their reproductive organs, most of their bodies were the same, yet those small differences defined their individuality.
Aksai reasoned that the same principle applied to sunlight and moonlight. He felt as though he had grasped a foundational truth of the world: a small change introduced at the right time and place could result in profound transformation.
This epiphany, while fleeting, felt like a breakthrough. He also sensed that his newfound insight was connected to the two additional volumes of the Heretic Dao Inheritance that he had acquired.
The idea that small changes at pivotal moments could create something extraordinary was echoed in the inheritance.
Could a small shift turn something ordinary into something eccentric or even heretical? Aksai had only skimmed through the two series Haitin had given him and hadn’t yet fully absorbed the inheritance he’d received from Mao.
So, the insight was brief, limited by his current knowledge.
Still, it allowed Aksai to understand many aspects of his practice that he had previously overlooked due to various distractions.
The energy flowing through him felt steady and almost tranquil, but beneath the surface was the potential for explosive action if the situation demanded it.
For a brief moment, Aksai opened his eyes and glanced at the moonlit gallery. The world outside was quiet, with only the distant sound of the wind and the faintest hint of waves in the distance.
The stillness of the night seemed to mirror the state of his own cultivation—calm on the surface, but with hidden depths that ran much deeper.
‘My lord, I’m ready.’
Suddenly, a young lady’s calm voice sounded in Aksai’s mind. It was Yelia the awakened Artifact Spirit who was still in the Enchanted Everwood Farm.
Tonight, Aksai was going to try to make use of the intent-based energy that he had cultivated in his farm to expedite his Spirit cultivation progress. He was curious about the effects it could produce.
Would it allow him to ignore the setbacks brought by his lack of Spirit Root Aptitude?
There was only one way to find out.